U.S. patent application number 11/224741 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for device for rinsing out and spin drying a wiping body.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Yunus Demirtas, Hendrik Rust, Ronald Schwarz.
Application Number | 20060048330 11/224741 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32404448 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060048330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rust; Hendrik ; et
al. |
March 9, 2006 |
Device for rinsing out and spin drying a wiping body
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for rinsing out and spin
drying a wiping body, which is mounted on a wiping head of a
surface cleaning device, comprising a container which has a rinsing
region and a spin dryer region, a wiping head mount being mounted
rotatably in the spin dryer region, into which wiping head mount
the wiping head can be inserted together with the wiping body and
which wiping head mount can be driven rotationally by means of a
drive device in order to remove moisture from the wiping body, the
rinsing region accommodating a cleaning fluid, and it being
possible for the wiping head together with the wiping body to be
inserted into the rinsing region. In order to further develop the
device in such a manner that it has a particularly compact
configuration, it is proposed according to the invention that the
container is configured in the manner of a bucket which surrounds
the rinsing region and the spin dryer region, that the container
forms below the spin dryer region a dividing wall which covers a
drive compartment accommodating the drive device, and that the
rinsing region extends laterally next to the spin dryer region and
the drive compartment, the rinsing region forming an insertion
section level with the spin dryer region and a liquid-accommodating
region level with the drive compartment.
Inventors: |
Rust; Hendrik;
(Remshalden-Hebsack, DE) ; Demirtas; Yunus;
(Kornwestheim, DE) ; Schwarz; Ronald; (Winnenden,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lipsitz & McAllister, LLC
755 MAIN STREET
MONROE
CT
06468
US
|
Assignee: |
Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co.
KG
Winnenden
DE
|
Family ID: |
32404448 |
Appl. No.: |
11/224741 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP04/02320 |
Mar 6, 2004 |
|
|
|
11224741 |
Sep 9, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/260 ;
15/261 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/260 ;
015/261 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/58 20060101
A47L013/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 12, 2003 |
DE |
103 11 812 |
Claims
1. Device for rinsing out and spin drying a wiping body, which is
mounted on a wiping head of a surface cleaning device, comprising a
container which has a rinsing region and a spin dryer region, a
wiping head mount being mounted rotatably in the spin dryer region,
into which wiping head mount the wiping head can be inserted
together with the wiping body and which wiping head mount can be
driven rotationally about an axis of rotation by means of a drive
device in order to remove moisture from the wiping body, and the
rinsing region accommodating a cleaning liquid, and it being
possible for the wiping head together with the wiping body to be
inserted into the rinsing region, wherein the container is
configured in the manner of a bucket which surrounds the rinsing
region and the spin dryer region and wherein the container forms
below the spin dryer region a dividing wall which covers a drive
compartment accommodating the drive device, and wherein the rinsing
region extends laterally next to the spin dryer region and the
drive compartment, the rinsing region forming an insertion section
level with the spin dryer region and a liquid-accommodating region
level with the drive compartment.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the container has a basic
body which is of unitary configuration, surrounds the spin dryer
region and the rinsing region and has a recessed formation which
can be covered by a covering, the covering and the recessed
formation surrounding the drive compartment.
3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the covering can be
connected releasably to the basic body.
4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid-accommodating
region extends further down than the spin dryer region.
5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the container has laterally
next to the drive compartment a bottom wall which is oriented
obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation of the wiping head
mount and covers a free space disposed below the bottom wall.
6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the bottom wall bounds the
liquid-accommodating region and forms a rinsing plate against which
the wiping body can be placed in a planar manner and along which
the wiping body can be moved.
7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the rinsing plate carries
friction elements on its upper side.
8. Device according to claim 6, wherein the drive device is
associated with a control element which can be actuated by the user
and is disposed in the region of the free space or in the drive
compartment.
9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the control element has a
foot switch.
10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the wiping head mount can
be placed onto a drive shaft.
11. Device according to claim 10, wherein drive shaft reaches
through the dividing wall of the container.
12. Device according to claim 1, wherein the container has at least
one handle which is molded onto or into a container wall.
13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one handle
is configured as a recessed grip which is molded into a container
wall.
14. Device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one handle
is disposed on the exterior of the container adjacent to the spin
dryer region.
15. Device according to claim 1, wherein the wiping body is mounted
on the wiping head so as to form a wiping surface, and wherein the
wiping head mount has a receptacle into which the wiping head can
be inserted with the surface normal of the wiping surface oriented
obliquely or perpendicularly with respect to the axis of rotation
of the wiping head mount.
16. Device according to claim 15, wherein the receptacle receives
the wiping head with the surface normal of the wiping surface
oriented perpendicularly with respect to the axis of rotation of
the wiping head mount.
17. Device according to claim 15, wherein the receptacle is bounded
by two side walls which are disposed at a distance from each other,
receive the wiping head between them and in each case have at least
one passage opening.
18. Device according to claim 17, wherein the side walls are
configured in the form of a mesh or grid.
19. Device according to claim 15, wherein the wiping head mount is
associated with a lid which is disposed level with an upper edge of
the container and covers the spin dryer region with the exception
of the receptacle of the wiping head mount.
20. Device according to claim 19, wherein the lid is connected
integrally to the side walls of the receptacle.
21. Device according to claim 1, wherein the wiping head mount is
of unitary configuration.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of international
application number PCT/EP2004/002320 filed on Mar. 6, 2004.
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the subject matter
disclosed in international application number PCT/EP2004/002320 of
Mar. 6, 2004 and German application number 103 11 812.8 of Mar. 12,
2003, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety
and for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to a device for rinsing out and spin
drying a wiping body, which is mounted on a wiping head of a
surface cleaning device, comprising a container which has a rinsing
region and a spin dryer region, a wiping head mount being mounted
rotatably in the spin dryer region, into which wiping head mount
the wiping head can be inserted together with the wiping body and
which wiping head mount can be driven rotationally about an axis of
rotation by means of a drive device in order to remove moisture
from the wiping body, and the rinsing region accommodating a
cleaning liquid, and it being possible for the wiping head together
with the wiping body to be inserted into the rinsing region.
[0004] In order to clean a dirty surface, in particular a floor
surface, use is frequently made of a wiping body, for example a
wiping mop, a wiping pad or a wiping cloth mounted on a wiping head
forming a wiping surface. To clean the surface, the wiping head is
moved together with the wiping body along the surface to be
cleaned, so that dirt can be picked up. The wiping body, which is
mounted on the wiping head, can then be rinsed and wrung out.
[0005] To wring it out, it is proposed, in WO 92/14394 A, to place
the wiping head onto a wiping head mount which is subsequently
caused to rotate, so that liquid is spun out of the wiping body
because of the centrifugal forces in effect. A procedure of this
type has the advantage that the user does not have to come into
contact with the cleaning liquid. In the device described in WO
92/14394 A, the wiping head mount is disposed in a first container
which can be positioned above a collecting container in which the
liquid emerging from the wiping body can be collected. In addition,
use is made of a further container in which the wiping head, which
is mounted on the wiping body, can be rinsed out.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,403 describes a device of the type
mentioned at the beginning, in which a two-part container is used,
a first container part surrounding a rinsing region, which
accommodates a cleaning liquid for rinsing out the wiping body, and
a second container part being able to be placed onto the first
container part and surrounding the spin dryer region into which the
wiping head together with the wiping body mounted thereon can be
inserted.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to further develop
a device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a manner
that it has a more compact form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention in the
case of a device of the generic type by the fact that the container
is configured in the manner of a bucket which surrounds the rinsing
region and the spin dryer region, that the container forms below
the spin dryer region a dividing wall which covers a drive
compartment accommodating the drive device, and that the rinsing
region extends laterally next to the spin dryer region and the
drive compartment, the rinsing region forming an insertion section
level with the spin dryer region and a liquid-accommodating region
level with the drive compartment.
[0009] The configuration of the container that is used according to
the invention in the manner of a bucket permits simple handling of
the device, with the latter being distinguished by a compact form.
The rinsing region here has a relatively large volume, since it
extends both along the spin dryer region and along the drive
compartment and can therefore accommodate a considerable quantity
of cleaning liquid, so that the wiping body can be thoroughly
rinsed out in the rinsing region.
[0010] In an embodiment which can be produced particularly
cost-effectively, the container has a basic body which is of
unitary configuration, surrounds the spin dryer region and the
rinsing region and has a recessed formation which can be covered by
a covering, the covering and the recessed formation surrounding the
drive compartment. The basic body can be formed, for example, as a
molded plastics part and can therefore be produced
cost-effectively. In a configuration of this type, the device
according to the invention can also be assembled very
cost-effectively, since the covering permits easy access to the
drive compartment, so that the drive device can be secured therein
in a simple manner in the region of the recessed formation on the
basic body. The covering can then be placed on, so that the drive
compartment is completely encased by the region of the recessed
formation of the basic body and the covering.
[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the covering can be
connected releasably to the basic body, since the drive compartment
is thereby accessible at all times - for example for repair
purposes. The covering can preferably be connected releasably to
the basic body by means of a screw connection.
[0012] It is advantageous if the covering forms a base plate of the
container.
[0013] A particularly compact configuration of the device can be
obtained by the liquid-accommodating region extending further down
than the spin dryer region. As a result, the rinsing region can be
provided with a large volume which can be filled with cleaning
liquid. This makes it possible additionally to improve the cleaning
of the rinsing body within the rinsing region.
[0014] It is provided, in the case of one preferred embodiment,
that the container has laterally next to the drive compartment a
bottom wall which is oriented obliquely with respect to the axis of
rotation of the wiping head mount and covers a free space disposed
below the bottom wall. Operating elements of the device according
to the invention can be positioned within the free space.
[0015] In order to obtain a particularly thorough cleaning of the
wiping body within the rinsing region, it is provided, in the case
of one advantageous embodiment, that the obliquely oriented bottom
wall bounds the liquid-accommodating region and forms a rinsing
plate against which the wiping body, which is mounted on the wiping
head, can be placed in a planar manner and along which the wiping
body can be moved. The rinsing plate is therefore disposed within
the liquid-accommodating region, and the wiping body, which is
mounted on the wiping head, can be moved along the rinsing plate
while bearing in a planar manner against it. The rinsing plate
therefore forms a type of washboard and permits a particularly
thorough cleaning of the wiping body. The rinsing plate is oriented
obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation of the wiping head
mount and therefore obliquely with respect to the vertical in the
position of use of the device according to the invention. This
permits particularly simple handling of the device according to the
invention when rinsing out the wiping body, since the latter can be
moved along the obliquely oriented rinsing plate from top to
bottom, for example.
[0016] A particularly effective cleaning of the wiping body can be
obtained by the rinsing plate carrying friction elements on its
upper side. These friction elements can be configured, for example,
in the form of projections, grooves or furrows. Provision may also
be made for the rinsing plate to have a configuration in the form
of a grid and therefore to form a friction grid onto which the
wiping body mounted on the wiping body can be placed and along
which it can be moved.
[0017] The wiping head mount may be caused manually to rotate. For
this purpose, the drive unit can have mechanical drive elements
with a hand crank or a foot pedal actuable by the user. In
addition, mechanical deflecting elements can be used in order to
convert a translational movement of the foot pedal into a
rotational movement of the wiping head mount.
[0018] As an alternative, the drive device may have an electric
motor. It is advantageous in this case if the drive device is
associated with a control element which can be actuated by the
user. In order to obtain a particularly compact configuration and
the capability of handling the device in as simple a manner as
possible, it has proven advantageous here if the control element is
disposed in the region of the free space under the obliquely
oriented bottom wall or in the drive compartment under the spin
dryer region.
[0019] It is advantageous if the control element comprises a foot
switch. All that is then required in order to spin dry the wiping
body mounted on the wiping head is for the user to insert the
wiping head together with the wiping body into the wiping head
mount and subsequently to actuate the foot switch, so that the
drive device is set into operation and the wiping head mount
together with the wiping head and the wiping body mounted thereon
is therefore caused to rotate.
[0020] In one preferred embodiment, the wiping head mount can be
placed onto a drive shaft. This permits a particularly simple
assembly of the wiping head mount. The wiping head mount can
preferably be connected positively to the drive shaft. It is
advantageous if the wiping head mount is mounted in an exchangeable
manner in the spin dryer region of the container.
[0021] The drive shaft may be disposed within the spin dryer region
and may be coupled via coupling elements, for example via a
magnetic coupling, to the drive unit disposed within the drive
compartment.
[0022] As an alternative, it may be provided that the drive shaft
reaches through the dividing wall of the container, the dividing
wall covering the drive compartment. It is preferably coupled
within the drive compartment to a drive motor via mechanical
coupling elements, for example via a belt drive.
[0023] As already mentioned, the rinsing region of the container
accommodates a cleaning liquid. If, after the device has been used,
the said cleaning liquid is to be removed from the container, it is
advantageous if the container can be tilted in a simple manner. For
this purpose, in one preferred embodiment of the device according
to the invention, provision is made for the container to have at
least one handle which can be molded onto or into a container
wall.
[0024] The at least one handle may be configured, for example, as a
recessed grip which is molded into a container wall.
[0025] It has proven advantageous if the at least one handle is
disposed on the exterior of the container adjacent to the spin
dryer region.
[0026] There are preferably at least two handles which are molded
onto the container wall or into it on side regions of the container
that face away from each other.
[0027] In order to obtain as effective cleaning of the wiping body
as possible with little expenditure of energy, it is proven
advantageous if the wiping body is mounted on the wiping head so as
to form a wiping surface, and if the wiping head mount has a
receptacle into which the wiping head can be inserted with the
surface normal of the wiping surface oriented obliquely or
perpendicularly with respect to the axis of rotation of the wiping
head mount. In the case of a configuration of this type, the wiping
body is oriented during the spin drying in such a manner that the
surface normal of the wiping surface does not take up a position
parallel to the axis of rotation of the wiping head mount, but
rather the surface normal is at an angle with respect to the axis
of rotation. It has been demonstrated that such an orientation of
the wiping surface enables droplets of liquid to be particularly
effectively spun out. This makes it possible for the device to be
particularly highly efficient, anabling moisture to be effectively
removed from the wiping body within a short spin drying time even
at relatively low rotational speeds and accordingly with a
relatively low consumption of power.
[0028] It has proven particularly advantageous if the receptacle
receives the wiping head with the surface normal of the wiping
surface oriented perpendicularly with respect to the axis of
rotation. This permits a particularly compact configuration of the
device. In addition, in a construction of this type, moisture can
advantageously be removed from plate-like wiping bodies which form
a wiping surface both on their upper side and on their lower side
and consequently can be used on both sides. Wiping bodies of this
type are usually mounted on a wiping head to which a shank or
hand-grip is laterally hinged. The wiping head with the wiping body
mounted thereon can be pivoted relative to the shank or hand-grip
in such a manner that either the upper side or the lower side of
the wiping body faces the surface to be cleaned. This pivotable
mounting of the wiping head on the shank or hand-grip simplifies
the insertion of the wiping head with the wiping body mounted on it
into the receptacle of the wiping head mount in such a manner that
the surface normal of the wiping surface is oriented
perpendicularly with respect to the axis of rotation of the wiping
head mount.
[0029] The receptacle of the wiping head mount is preferably
bounded by two side walls which are disposed at a distance from
each other, receive the wiping head with the wiping body between
them and in each case have at least one passage opening through
which liquid which has been spun out can escape from the
receptacle.
[0030] It is advantageous if the side walls of the receptacle are
configured in the form of a mesh or grid. The receptacle is
therefore formed in the manner of a cage into which the wiping head
with the wiping body held on it can be inserted in a simple manner
vertically from above in the position of use of the device.
[0031] The wiping head mount is preferably associated with a lid
which is disposed level with an upper edge of the container and
covers the spin dryer region with the exception of the receptacle
of the wiping head mount. This not only reduces the risk that a
user will inadvertently reach into the container during the
rotation of the wiping head mount, but can also prevent liquid
which has been spun out from escaping from the container.
[0032] It has proven advantageous if the lid is connected
integrally to the side walls of the receptacle of the wiping head
mount. The lid is thereby caused to rotate together with the side
walls of the receptacle during the spin drying of the wiping
body.
[0033] A particularly simple assembly of the device according to
the invention can be obtained by the wiping head mount being of
unitary configuration. It can therefore be provided, for example,
that the wiping head mount forms a molded plastics part which can
be inserted removably into the spin dryer region of the
container.
[0034] As already explained, it is advantageous if the drive device
can be set into operation by means of a foot switch. It has proven
particularly advantageous here if the foot switch is electrically
connected to a timing element with the aid of which the spin drying
time determined by the actuation of the foot switch can be
detected. This provides the possibility, after a specific spin
drying time has expired, of activating an indicating element, for
example a light emitting diode, so that it is indicated to the user
that a specific spin drying time has elapsed and therefore that a
specific degree of drying has been achieved. It is of particular
advantage if the timing element is associated with a plurality of
indicating elements, for example a plurality of light emitting
diodes and/or an acoustic indicating element, for example a buzzer,
so that the reaching of different degrees of drying can be
indicated.
[0035] It may be provided that the drive device can be switched off
automatically by means of the timing element after a specific spin
drying time has elapsed.
[0036] It is advantageous if a desired spin drying time can be set
by the user by means of a setting element which, in a preferred
embodiment, is disposed in a lateral wall region of the
container.
[0037] The at least one indicating element and/or the setting
element are preferably disposed next to the foot switch.
[0038] The description below of a preferred embodiment of the
invention is used to provide a more detailed explanation in
conjunction with the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a floor wiping
device with a wiping body mounted on a wiping head;
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a device
according to the invention for rinsing out and spin drying the
wiping body, which is mounted on the wiping head of the floor
wiping device, obliquely from above;
[0041] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view on the line 3-3 in FIG. 4;
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a simplified plan view of the device shown in
FIG. 2;
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view on the line 5-5 in FIG. 3,
and
[0044] FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the device
according to the invention obliquely from below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates, in a diagrammatic illustration, a
surface cleaning device in the form of a floor wiping device 10,
which is known per se, with a shank 11 which is connected via a
pivot 12 (illustrated in simplified form) to a wiping head 13 on
the lower side of which, which faces away from the shank 11, a
wiping body 14 of sheet-like configuration is fixed. The latter may
be, for example, a wiping cloth which can be separated from the
wiping head 13. The lower side of the wiping body 14, which faces
away from the wiping head 13, forms a wiping surface 15 which, in
order to pick up dirt, can be moved along a floor surface which is
to be cleaned and the orientation of which is predetermined by a
surface normal 16 oriented perpendicularly with respect to the
wiping surface 15.
[0046] Floor surfaces can be cleaned in a customary manner by means
of the floor wiping device 10. For this purpose, the wiping body 14
is moistened and is subsequently moved along the floor surface to
be cleaned, so that, for example, dirt can be picked up from the
floor surface. The wiping body 14 is then rinsed out and wrung out,
so that it only has a small degree of moisture left.
[0047] In order to rinse out and remove moisture from the wiping
body 14, the invention uses the device which is illustrated in
FIGS. 2 to 6 and is covered by the reference numeral 20 to rinse
out and spin dry liquid from the wiping body 14. The device
comprises a container in the form of a bucket 22 which has a flat
transverse wall 23 which is connected integrally to longitudinal
walls 24 and 25, which are oriented at a right angle to the
transverse wall 23 and are disposed parallel to each other. The
said longitudinal walls are connected integrally to each other on
their side facing away from the transverse wall 23 via a curved
wall 26, which is of semi-cylindrical configuration. On the upper
side, the said walls 23 to 26 define an upper edge 27 of the bucket
22, the upper edge encircling in one plane.
[0048] A partition 29 which is curved in the shape of an arc of a
circle is inserted into the bucket 22 and uses retaining elements
in the form of lateral airfoils 30, 31 to engage approximately
centrally over the upper edge 27 in the region of the longitudinal
walls 24 and 25. The partition 29 divides the interior of the
bucket 22 into a spin dryer region 33 and a rinsing region 34.
[0049] A carrying strap 36 on which a carrying handle 37 is
centrally mounted is hinged, in each case centrally, to the upper
edge 27 in the region of the transverse wall 23 and the curved wall
26. The carrying strap 36 spans the rinsing region 34 and the spin
dryer region 33 in the longitudinal direction of the bucket 22 and
can be pivoted between a position resting on the upper edge 27 and
a pivoted-out position (illustrated by a dashed line in FIG.
5).
[0050] At a clear distance from the partition 29, the transverse
wall 23 and the longitudinal walls 24 and 25 are connected
integrally to one another via a bottom wall 39 of the bucket 22,
which bottom wall is inclined obliquely with respect to the
vertical in the direction of the spin dryer region 34. The bottom
wall 39 forms a rinsing or friction plate which will be discussed
in more detail below. In this case, the transverse wall 23
protrudes downwards beyond the bottom wall 39 in the same manner as
the two longitudinal walls 24 and 25. In this protruding region,
they define a free space 40 which is freely accessible from below.
Below the bottom wall 39, the transverse wall 23 has a rectangular
recessed formation 42 which enters the free space 40 and in which a
control element in the form of a foot switch 43 that is actuable by
the user is disposed.
[0051] A stepped wall 45 which is oriented substantially parallel
to the transverse wall 23 is molded on that end of the bottom wall
39 which faces away from the transverse wall 23, the stepped wall
extending approximately over half of the height of the bucket 22
and being integrally adjoined by a dividing wall 46 which is
oriented substantially horizontally and via which the stepped wall
45 is connected to the curved wall 26. Two recessed grips 48, 49
which are accessible to the user are molded into the dividing wall
46 adjacent to the longitudinal walls 24 and 25.
[0052] The transverse wall 23 in combination with the two
longitudinal walls 24, 25 and the curved wall 26 and also the
bottom wall 39, the stepped wall 45 and the dividing wall 46 forms
a basic body 50 which is of unitary configuration, is configured as
a molded plastics part and, by means of the dividing wall 46 and
the stepped wall 45, forms a recessed formation which is covered by
a covering 52, which is of unitary configuration, can be connected
releasably to the basic body 50 by means of connecting screws 53
and has a base plate 54 of substantially triangular configuration
and a side wall 55 protruding upward vertically from the base plate
54 in the region of the curved wall 26. The side wall 55 here opens
up lateral access in each case to the recessed grips 48 and 49 to a
user.
[0053] A drive compartment 57 of the bucket 22 is defined below the
rinsing region 34 by the covering 52 and the stepped wall 45 and
the dividing wall 46.
[0054] On its upper side 59 facing the container interior, the
bottom wall 39 carries a multiplicity of projections 60 which are
of V-shaped configuration and are connected integrally to the
bottom wall 39.
[0055] The rinsing region 34 forms an insertion section 62 level
with the partition 29, and a liquid-accommodating region 63 which
accommodates a cleaning liquid 64 is configured below the insertion
section 62, in the region between the obliquely oriented bottom
wall 39 and the vertically oriented stepped wall 45. This is clear
in particular in FIG. 3.
[0056] The drive compartment 57 accommodates an electric motor 66
which is coupled via a pinion and a toothed belt 67 to a pulley 66
mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the drive shaft 79. The
said drive shaft is mounted via ball bearings on a bearing holder
78 fixed in the drive compartment 57 and reaches with its upper end
region 73, which faces away from the pulley 68, through the
dividing wall 46 and therefore enters the rinsing region 33 of the
bucket 22.
[0057] The drive compartment 57 accommodates a rechargeable battery
72 in addition to the power supply for the electric motor 66.
[0058] The electric motor 66 is connected electrically via electric
connecting lines (not illustrated in the drawing) which are known
per se to a control unit, which is known to the expert and is
therefore not illustrated in the drawing so as to obtain better
clarity and is disposed within the drive compartment 57 or
alternatively within the free space 40 and, for its part, is
connected to the foot switch 43, and also to two optical indicating
elements in the form of two light emitting diodes 75, 76, disposed
on the transverse wall 23 next to the foot switch 43, and to an
acoustic indicating element in the form of a buzzer 77 disposed on
the transverse wall 23 below the light emitting diodes 75, 76. In
addition, the control unit is electrically connected to an electric
setting element, which is mounted on the transverse wall 23 above
the light emitting diode 56 and is in the form of a selector switch
78.
[0059] The spin dryer region 23 exchangeably accommodates a wiping
head mount 80, which is of integral configuration in the form of a
molded plastics part and has two side walls 83, 84 which are
oriented parallel to each other and define a receptacle 82 between
them and are configured in the manner of a cage with a multiplicity
of passage openings 85. The side walls 83, 84 are connected
integrally to each other via a substantially U-shaped supporting
clip 86 which has a horizontally oriented cross-piece 87, which is
reinforced in its central region, and is seated on the upper end
region 73 of the drive shaft 70 via a positive connection.
[0060] The wiping head mount 80 also comprises a lid 91 comprising
two lid halves 89 and 90. The two lid halves 89 and 90 are
connected here integrally to a respective side wall 83 and 84 of
the wiping head mount 80. The spin dryer region 33 of the bucket
22, with the exception of the receptacle 82 of the wiping head
mount 80, is completely covered by means of the lid 91.
[0061] By means of the electric motor 66 via the drive shaft 70,
the wiping head mount 80 can be caused to rotate about the
longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 70, i.e. the longitudinal axis
of the drive shaft 70 defines an axis of rotation 93 of the wiping
head mount 80, which axis of rotation is oriented vertically in the
position of use of the device 20.
[0062] For rinsing out purposes, the wiping head 13 with the wiping
body 14 mounted thereon can be inserted through the insertion
section 62 and dipped into the cleaning liquid 64 of the
liquid-accommodating region 63. For this purpose, the wiping head
13 is pivoted with the aid of the pivot 12, starting from the
operating position illustrated in FIG. 1, about a pivot axis
oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
shank 11 to an extent such that the surface normal 16 of the wiping
surface 15 is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect
to the axis of rotation 93 of the wiping head mount 80. In this
pivoted position, the wiping head 13 can be inserted via the
insertion section 62 into the rinsing region 34 until the front end
edge of the wiping head 13, which end edge faces away form the
shank 11, strikes against the upper side 59 of the bottom wall 39.
The wiping body 14 mounted on the wiping head 13 can subsequently
be placed, by renewed pivoting of the wiping head 13, in a planar
manner onto the upper side 59 of the bottom wall 39 and can then be
moved along the upper side 59 in the direction of the stepped wall
45. A reliable cleaning of the wiping body 14 surrounded by the
cleaning liquid 64 is obtained here by means of the projections 60
protruding from the upper side 59. The bottom wall 39 with
projections 60 molded onto it therefore forms a rinsing or friction
plate which can be used to thoroughly rinse out the wiping body
14.
[0063] After cleaning has taken place, the wiping head 13 with the
wiping body 14 mounted on it can be removed again via the insertion
section 62 from the rinsing region 34 and can then be inserted into
the receptacle 82 of the wiping head mount 80. The user can then
set the electric motor 66 into operation by actuation of the foot
switch 43, so that the entire wiping head mount 80 together with
the wiping body 14 is caused to rotate via the drive shaft 70. The
rotational movement causes the liquid held by the wiping body 14 to
experience a centrifugal force, so that liquid is spun out of the
wiping body 14 in the radial direction and strikes against the
interior of the curved wall 26 and against that side of the
partition 29 which faces the spin dryer region 23. The liquid which
is has been spun out subsequently flows downward along the said
walls and collects again in the liquid-accommodating region 63.
[0064] By means of the light emitting diodes 75 and 76 and the
buzzer 77, the user obtains feedback about the arising degree of
drying of the wiping body 14 inserted into the receptacle 82. For
this purpose, the control unit includes a timing element, which is
known per se and is therefore not illustrated in the drawing, which
measures the spin drying time, which is determined by the actuation
of the foot switch 43, of the wiping head mount 80. The duration of
the spin drying process, which takes place at a fixedly
predetermined speed of rotation, corresponds in each case to a
certain degree of drying of the wiping body. When a first degree of
drying is reached, first of all the light emitting diode 75
illuminates, and, as the rotational movement continues, the light
emitting diode 76 illuminates when an advanced degree of drying is
reached, and the buzzer 77 sounds. The respectively desired degree
of drying can be set in an infinitely variable manner by the user
by means of the selector switch 78. The user can subsequently
release the foot switch 43 again, so that the rotational movement
of the wiping head mount 80 is ended and the wiping head 13
together with the wiping body 14 can consequently be removed from
the wiping head mount 80. To pick up dirt, the wiping head together
with the wiping body 14 can then be moved along the floor surface
to be cleaned, in order then to be cleaned again in the rinsing
region 34 of the device 20.
[0065] From the above it is clear that the device 20 has a compact
form, with the rinsing region 34 extending further down the spin
dryer region 33 and the drive compartment 75 being disposed below
the spin dryer region 33. The bottom wall 39 forms a rinsing or
friction plate for the thorough cleaning of the wiping body 14,
which can be placed in a planar manner onto the rinsing plate and
can be moved along the latter, with the cleaning action being
reinforced by the protruding projections 60. The use of the
indicating elements in the form of the light emitting diodes 75 and
76 and the buzzer 77 considerably simplifies the handling of the
device 20 according to the invention, since the user obtains
feedback about the arising degree of drying, which he can
predetermine by means of the selector switch 76. In addition, the
energy consumption of the device 20 can be significantly reduced as
a result, since the spin drying process can be ended immediately
after a specific degree of drying is reached.
* * * * *